The City Council will be presented with these words in consideration of the motion:
Sherri Craichy, October 31, 1937 to June 26, 2010.
Sherri should be remembered for many things.
Probably chief among them was her total dedication to and immersion in the City of LaBelle.
Sherri served on
The LaBelle City Commission (1980-1987)
The LaBelle City Variance Board (1988-1993).
As Mayor from 1993-2005, she was the driving force behind many of the projects most dear to residents today.
These projects included:
Acquiring grants to obtain the Captain Hendry House, bringing LaBelle’s past, present and future together;
Purchasing the Barron Park House and property to ensure the future expansion of her beloved Barron Park;
Helping the Firehouse Players find a home in the Firehouse Cultural Center.
Her foresight secured property for
The Veterans Memorial Park
The Nature Park on Fraser Ave.
The Nature Park on the north side of the river.
She worked to save the personal stories of many of LaBelle’s founding citizens through oral history videos
She also served on the City of LaBelle’s first zoning board and helped write the city’s first comprehensive land use plan. She helped write the first land use ordinances in LaBelle and was a trusted confidante of many other community leaders.
Sherri worked as a real estate broker in LaBelle from 1972 – 2010.
She spoke Spanish fluently and was very active with the Ford/Sunset Park community. She also served on various local committees including Swamp Cabbage Festival and the Fourth of July in Barron Park
“Sherri,” as she was always known, was courageous in championing her causes, which were invariably rooted in her vision for the community.
Barron Park was always her primary focus - “Her heart and soul.” Her dream gave the residents
The Bandstand,
The Gazebo and
The Pavilion as well as
The Barron Park House
The “Christmas Tree” in Barron Park along the River is known as “SHERRI’s TREE” by residents who have been here through the years.
We would like to officially have the tree named as Sherri’s Tree with a plaque designating it in dedication to the lady who was instrumental in inspiring and leading young LaBelle forward to what it’s built on, what it has become, and still inspiring future development.
LaBelle is “The City of Oaks” because of Sherri.
Thus the Oak Tree Ordinance. She had the foresight to know that young Oak Trees needed to be planted throughout the community and “her” beloved Barron Park.
Sherri passed away June 26, 2010 – 10 years ago! A perfect time to begin her legacy.
-Submitted by Nikki Yeager, Friends & Community Supporters
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